Golf-ball.



No. 696,892. Patented Apr. I, |902.

E. KEMPSHALL.

GOLF BALL.

AApplication led Jan. 20, 1902.:

YM: cams PETERS cc. PHaTaLITNmwAsmNsmN, n. c.

tween them being indicated at F.

UNrrnn VStaines PATENT OFFICE.

ELEAZER KEMPSI-IALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE KEMISHALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GOLF-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,892, dated April 1, 1902. Application led January 20, 1902. Serial No. 90,442. (No model.)

To ctZZ whomI it' may concern: j

Be it known that I, ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, a citizen of the United States, residingin Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Golf-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toplayingballs,such as used in the game of golf and other games. Its object is to produce at low cost an efficient ballhaving the quality of being dead when given a light blow and exceedingly lively when struck a heavy blow.

In the drawings forming a part of this specifieation, Figure l is a view of a ball made according to my improvements, being partly broken away, so as to exhibit its construction. Fig. 2 illustrates a stage in the process of completing the ball.

I preferably employ a large core made of gutta-percha, which is preferably introduced `in a fiuid condition and hardened'within a suitable rubber envelop B, the gutta-percha being forced into said envelop to such an extent as to materially expand it, as set forth in an application filed by Francis H. Richards December 3, 1901, Serial No. 84,529, whereby the envelop, especially the exterior portion thereof, is put into a state of high longitudinal tension, as indicated by the broken curved lines C, the interior portion of the envelop is compressed by the exterior portion, as indicated by the radial lines D, and the core is held constantly under compression by said envelop. The combination of compresed core and distended envelop enhances the efficiency of the ball when struck aheavy blow. However, if desired, soft rubber may be otherwise employed for inclosing a core. Upon the compound rubber and gutta-percha filling I place a shell E of gutta-percha, preferably in the form of hollow hemispheres, the joint be- Said shell I provide with a cover consisting of hemispheres G and I-I of celluloid, the joint J between these extending crossWise of the joint F between the gutta-percha shells. The parts thus assembled I place between heating and pressing dies K and I., preferably in such a manner that the joint J of the celluloid cover lies the same way as the joint N in the dies.

I then heat the dies and bring them together with great force, the heat rendering the ce1- luloid plastic and enabling it to conform to the shape ofthe dies and also to weld at the joint J. Preferably theheat is sufficient to also soften the gutta-percha shell and enable it to weld at the joint F. I thus form a double shell upon the rubber and gutta-percha filling which possesses great strength and durability, particularly since the weld or joint at F runs crosswise With the weld or joint at J', Fig. l. The gutta-percha is thus caused to form one complete sphere, as at E', and the celluloid another complete covering, as at G". solidifies both the celluloid and gutta-percha components of the shell, the confined mass of rubber and gutta-percha being sufficiently resisting to support the comparatively weak material 0f the shell under any desired degree of pressure ofthe forming-dies. By having the joints of the double shell run crosswise of each other the body portions of the several segments respectively reinforce lthe joints, andv hence the liability of bursting is minimized. i i

It is to be understood that in case condensation of the bulk of the core takes place in the operation of compressing the shell upon the core it is due to the presence of air-spaces or impurities in th'e material. It is not essential in every Way of practicing my invention that the core be condensed in bulk, so long as when the ball is finished the core is powerfully gripped by the shell, thereby enabling the shell and core to act conjointly, and hence vastly improve the playing qualities of the ball. Itwill be observed that the celluloid or other hard outer shell is supported by successive inner shells or layers of diminishing sizes and successively-increasing elasticities, the series of shells being preferably'supported upon a solid or hard central core.

One feature of the present improvements consists of the use of any suitable and relatively hard outer' shell supported upon a second shell of gutta-percha, this being supported upon a third shell or sphere of elastic material.

The pressure of the dies compacts and IOO - secondary gutta-percha shell and this second shell supported upon a rubber shell. The shell layer E lies between the principal elastic member B and the outer shell. The blow received by 'thelatter is thus transmitted v through successive members of graduated resistance. The gutta-perclia shell layer is .somewhat softer,less resisting, and more elaslIO ing it possible to use celluloid in its most effective forni, since a thin plate of this mate? rial possesses valuable characteristics not found, or at least imperfectly developed, in a thick plate. For one thing a thin cover of celluloid may be better seasoned than a thick or massive cover, and it is more springy and pliant, while possessing the same wear-re'- sisting, smooth, waterproof, and other qualities which render the ball desirable in the game of golf. At the same time I am .enabled touse in the shell a large mass of gnttapercha, which possesses to a superlative de-v gree the quality of storing up force from a blow, which is necessary'in a golf-ball. It will be understood that it is important in View of the small size of the ball used in this game and the necessityof its carrying or flying a great distance to use in its construction such a combination of materials asWill utilize .to advantage every portion of the mass of the ball, or, in other words, it is important to eliminate all dead-weight therefrom. Hence it is desirable not only to provide a core or filling having thedesired qualities, but also to provide therefor a shell which not only protects said filling, but also itself contributes in a large degree to the flying power or efficiency of the ball, While preventing a light blow from affecting the highly-elastic interior. This desideratum is obtained in this instance by reducing the thickness of the celluloid cover, so as to retain only enough thereof to provide a wear resisting, waterproof, and otherwise satisfactory exterior for the balls, and lining such cover with a relatively thick mass of gutta-percha, which not only has great carrying power, but is tough.

The celluloid overcomes the objections to the use of a plain gutta-percha exterior, While all the advantages of the gutta-percha are retained.

In using the term compression herein as applied to the rubber sphere B or to the core A, I refer to the compressive tendency, Which may or may not cause a condensation of the bulk of the material, the presence or absence ofsuch condensation depending upon the character of the material used and upon the degree of pressure employed in forming the ball. 1

A gutta-percha and celluloid shell may be otherwise formed within the scope of my improvements and may be used with other fillings than those herein specifically mentioned.

The herein-described process is made the subject-matter of mypending application, Serial No. 96,992, led March 6, 1902.

Having described my invention, I claiml. A playing-ball 'comprising a spherical rubber envelop distended by a filling of gnttapercha, 'and a shell built up of gutta-percha and celluloid' and compressed upon said en- 2. A playing-ball comprisinga relatively large spherical core of gutta-percha, a solid softrubber spherical envelop thereon, a

gutta-percha shell upon said envelop, vand a celluloid covering upon said shell.

3. A playing-ball comprising a spherical gutta-percha core', a soft-rubber envelop thereon, a relatively thick gntta-percha shell upon said envelop, and a celluloid covering upon said'shell; said celluloid covering being materially thinner than said gutta-percha shell.

4. A playing-ball comprising a spherical gutta-percha core, a solid soft-rubber spherical envelop thereon, a gutta-percha shellv upon said envelop, and a celluloid Covering upon said shell; said celluloid and gnttapercha shell being compressed upon said envelop. Y

5. A playing-ball comprising av spherical gutta-perch'a core, a solid soft-rubber envelop thereon, a gutta-percha shell upon said envelop, and a celluloid covering upon said shell; said celluloid shell being formed in segments Welded and compressed upon the filled gutta-percha shell.

6. A playin g-ball comprisinga gutta-percha spherical core, asoft-rubber envelop thereon, a gutta-percha shell upon said envelop, and a celluloid covering upon said shell; said gutta-percha shell being formed in segments Welded and compressed upon said soft-rubber envelop. v

7. Aplaying-ballcomprisingagutta-percha core, a soft-rubber envelop, a gutta-.perch'a shell upon said envelop, and a celluloid covering upon said shell; said gutta-percha and celluloid shell components being made in sections all of which are Welded and compressed upon said soft-rubber envelop.

8. A playin g-ball comprisinga gutta-percha core, a soft-rubber envelop'thereon, a gnttapercha shell upon said envelop, and a celluloid covering upon said shell; said gnttapercha and celluloid shell components being made in sections Whichare Welded and compressed upon said filling, and the Weld or joint in the celluloid covering crossing the Weld or joint in the gutta-percha shell.

9. A playing-ball comprising a core which is inclusive of a spherical body of india-rnbber, and a shell compounded of gutta-percha and celluloid and compressed upon said core.

10. A playing-ball Comprising a relatively los IIO

a soft and highly-elastic sphere thereon, a harder and less elastic sphere upon said sphere, and a still harder and still less elastic casing upon the last-mentioned sphere.

14. A playing-ball comprising a re1ativelT hard outer shell, an inner gutta-percha shell, and a i spherical filling within said guttapercha shell, at least the exterior of said filling consisting of soft rubber.

15. A playing-ball comprising a hard core, a soft and highly-elastic sphere expanded thereon, a harder and less elastic sphere upon said sphere, and a still harder and still less elastic casing upon the last-mentioned sphere.

1G. A playing-ball comprising a relatively hard outer shell, an inner gutta-percha shell, a rubber sphere Within said gutta-percha shell, and a hard core upon Whichsaid rubber sphere is expanded.

17p. A playing-ball comprising a hard core inoased in a highly-yielding sphere, said sphere being in a state of expansion upon said core, a more resisting shell layerupon said sphere, and a still more resisting outer layer upon said shell layer. i A

. ELEAZER KElVIPSHALL.` Witnesses:

B. C. STICKNEY,

JOHN O. SEIFERT. 

